Cam Latches: Everything You Need to Know

Have you ever stopped to think about what keeps us, as a society, safe?

In the most literal sense, how often do you consider the physical hardware used on the industrial enclosures that are all around us every day, keeping the equipment inside and people around it safe?

How often do we take the time to consider the locks and locking mechanisms that we rely on everyday? 

There are numerous types of latches, with varying degrees of complexity depending on their intended use.

In fact, engineers have to consider a long list of latch types when preparing to install hardware, as different latches can be utilized to best address the pain points of different applications.

For over 30 years, cam latches (also referred to as cam locks) have been trusted to secure doors, access panels, and practically any other compartment on all types of industrial applications.
 

So what makes these latches so dependable?

Let’s talk about it.

Throughout the course of his lengthy career as a sales engineer, Dieter Ramsauer gained valuable experience and understanding regarding the needs of his customers.

This experience led Dieter Ramsauer to invent the modularly designed cam latch in 1967 and a modular rod latch system in 1968. This new upgraded modular design created the first cross-industry standard for cam latches.  Now cabinet manufacturers could easily swap housings, inserts and cams to meet the needs of various industries.

Designed to be utilized for fast and efficient latching devices for doors, lockers, cabinets, drawers, safety boxes and virtually any other compartment, a quarter-turn is a bit more complicated than meets the eye.

You may be asking, “Well what’s the difference between a cam latch and a quarter-turn?”
Spoiler alert: There isn’t. While these names are vastly different, this is only due to regional nomenclature/name differences.

A cam latch, cam lock, and quarter-turn all refer to the same type of latch.

Now that we got that out of the way, here’s a high level cam latch overview:

• Cam latches are made up of a main unit that is connected to a Cabinet door or removable panel - drop window, and a rotating ‘cam lever’ that can engage or disengage a non-moving frame or fixed panel. 
• So when the door or window is shut, that same rotating lever can rotate behind the door frame or panel, keeping the door from opening and effectively securing the door shut.
• This cam lever can be activated with a simple twisting motion by hand or key (think about unlocking your front door for example).

Still following? Great. Let’s get into the details then. 

Cam latches are great for consumer and industrial applications, as they are extremely resistant to pulling, ramming, drilling, and most other means of forced entry thanks to their unique keyways!

In fact, some manufacturers like DIRAK utilize patented access control programs, effectively eliminating the risk of illegal duplicate keys.

Because cam latches have a reputation for being manageable, simple, and extremely reliable, they are especially popular where valuable technology or personal information is stored. 
 

Cam latches are compatible with both non-metal and metal locking mechanisms and as we’ve covered, are practical for a wide variation of applications. Engineer and consumers both should be weary of a number of considerations when looking to purchase a cam latch:

• Custom vs. standard cam latch: latches are available in a wide variety of key configurations, components, and sizes.  Depending on the individual application, a shorter and more flat cam latch could fit, or perhaps a lengthier one will do the job.
  You have the option to add your own touch of style to the lock, with several finishes including iron, copper, nickel, brass, and more.
   
• Choosing the right cam rotation: various key removals, rotations, and cam positions are available.